"Remind me again why we agreed to let Liam and Grace be alone for two bloody hours after school?" Killian complained to his wife over the phone.
"Because, you know that math is not our son's best subject. Anna Elizabeth has a doctor's appointment, and Grace offered to help since she loves math," Emma explained, trying to not sound exasperated.
Killian took a deep, calming breath before he reasoned, "I know I'm overreacting, especially since they'll be alone for a few hours come Friday."
"Well, look at you loosening that overprotective grip on Liam," Emma teased. She then stated seriously, "Come on, Killian. Liam may not be exactly subtle about his feelings, but he is a great kid. And so is Grace. We don't have anything to worry about."
"I know, Swan," he simply replied. There was silence for a moment before his wife once again reassured him, "Hey, we did a good job with him. Everything will be okay."
Though Emma couldn't see him, he smiled at her words. She really did have a way of making the situation better.
He then told her, "Aye, love. I'll see you at home, Swan. I love you." "I love you too, Killian. See you later," she replied before she hung up the phone.
Killian slipped his phone back into his pocket before returning to the task at hand – hanging a chandelier.
Calin was going to hold the ladder for him, but when Killian turned to find his son-in-law, he found him taking off his tool belt.
Killian's brows furrowed for a moment before he remembered where the young man was headed. When Killian saw that Calin's hands were shaking as he dug his keys out of his pocket, he walked over to him.
"You know, mate, I don't think you'll help Anna Elizabeth by being a nervous wreck at the appointment."
Calin took a deep breath before he admitted, "I know, but I can't help it. She's having her first ultrasound today to determine the due date."
Killian offered a small smile as he supplied, "And the idea of seeing your child for the first time is rather surreal."
Calin simply nodded in response. He then bit his lip and sheepishly asked, "You really don't mind me taking off work at times to go with Anna Elizabeth, do you?"
"Of course not. I did the exact same thing with Emma," Killian reassured him. He then joked, "Although, my wife was rather adamant about scheduling her appointments on the weekends so that neither one of us would miss work."
Calin couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head because that sounded very familiar. He then spoke, "I think that Anna Elizabeth would have, but she was so excited about it, which probably isn't surprising."
The dark-haired man grinned as he stated wistfully, "It isn't. It's nice to know that her enthusiasm hasn't faded with age."
His son-in-law offered a sympathetic smile before he added, "Well, considering that Anna is her aunt and her namesake, I don't think we have to worry about that." His tone was playful, but he couldn't be more sincere.
Killian smiled as well before he spoke, "Speaking of family, I understand why you two didn't want to share the news with any of us, but have you told Ethan or Alex?"
"Well, I'm fairly certain that Alex suspects something because of Evie, but she isn't going to say anything. And aside from the fact that Ethan cannot keep a secret, he's a little preoccupied with his girlfriend," Calin explained, putting air quotes around that last word.
His father-in-law raised an eyebrow as he questioned, "Do you not believe that your brother truly cares about her?"
"He's Ethan," the brown-haired man stated with a shrug of his shoulders.
"I do know him, and he does live up to the reputation," Killian agreed. He then considered his words and added, "Though believing you can't find love again and never having it before aren't quite the same thing, all it took was meeting the right person and everything changed."
"You really think this woman can do that for Ethan?" Calin questioned, one part curious and one part disbelieving.
"I believe that your brother is the only one who can answer that," Killian replied. His son-in-law took a deep breath before he began to leave. He was stopped, however, by Killian.
"Allow me to offer you a piece of advice. Much like your brother in Providence, Rhode Island, I had settled down and made Storybrooke my home. I had my family and my friends, and in my mind, that was enough. Love was the last thing on my mind, and I truthfully believed it wasn't really for me. If someone had told me I would have ended up here – as a devoted husband and father – I would have believed them to be completely daft. I don't know much about this lass of Ethan's affection, but he may just surprise you when it comes to her."
Calin took a few moments to digest his father-in-law's words before he spoke, "Thanks, Killian." The dark-haired man nodded before Calin continued, "I better get going so I won't be late. Anna Elizabeth won't be too happy if I am."
Killian couldn't help but shake his head because he knew the truth in that statement. As Calin made his way out the door, Killian turned his attention back toward the ladder and the chandelier.
He knew it wouldn't be effective to take Leroy or Will away from their tasks, so he was searching for a plan B. Just as he had thought of it, his cell phone rang.
When he had taken it from his pocket, he became slightly worried when he saw his son on the caller ID.
He quickly answered it and worriedly asked, "Liam, is everything alright?"
"I'm fine, Dad. It's just that, well, can you bring your keys to the house? I'm locked out," the teenager explained.
"There's a spare key under the mat," Killian told him.
"Well, uh, actually, the spare key is in the house, and I'm pretty positive they're with my keys," Liam sheepishly admitted, and Killian could just see his son scratching behind his ear.
The dark-haired man shook his head before he told him, "Lad, I've lost count of how many times I've told you to put the house key on the keychain with your truck keys."
Liam sighed before he pleaded, "Can you, like, lecture me later? Grace had to go straight home after school to grab her math book and find her old notes, and I'd rather already be in the house when she got here."
"Ah, so you don't want to be embarrassed in front of her, eh, Liam?" Killian couldn't resist teasing his son.
"Daaad! Can you just please come now?" Liam complained.
"I'm on my way," Killian assured his son before he hung up the phone. He saw Leroy and Will eyeing him and gave a pointed look to both of them before he left.
When he arrived at the house, he found Liam sitting with his back to the door. He was using one hand to run his fingers through his black locks while he used his other one to scratch behind his ear.
He looked up when he heard his father's footsteps. The teenager instantly stood up and exclaimed, "Come on, Dad! You know that virtually everything in this town is only a five-minute drive."
Killian held in a chuckle before he finished making his way to the door, where he quickly unlocked the door.
Liam rushed inside before he told his father, "Thanks, Dad. You can go now."
"Not so fast," Killian stated, and his son turned to look at him with a perplexed expression. He then asked, "What is it, Dad?"
"I'm not leaving until I see you place the house key on your key ring. You know I don't mind helping you out, but I may not always be available to do so," Killian explained.
"But Dad, Grace will be here any minute!" Liam complained.
"Now," the dark-haired man firmly stated. The teenager thought about rolling his eyes but thought better of it before he trudged to his room.
He came back into the living room with his house key and the spare key in hand. He pulled his truck keys from his pocket and promptly placed one of the two keys on it.
Killian grinned before he spoke, "And I'll take this," as he grabbed the spare key from his son's hand. He then teased, "You would have avoided so much difficulty if you had only did that in the first place," as he motioned to the keys in the teenager's hand.
Liam sighed before he finally resigned, "Look, I know. I just, well, get distracted easily," as he scratched behind his ear.
"A distraction by the name of Grace," the dark-haired man supplied with a grin.
Liam only huffed and crossed his arms while Killian held in a chuckle at how much he looked like Emma when he did that.
He then noticed a map sticking out of his son's backpack and commented, "I didn't think you had history this semester."
"What?" Liam asked as he furrowed his brows. After a moment, the realization hit him, and he stated, "Oh, I was marking the cities where they have museums of famous author's houses."
"Any particular reason why you're doing that?" Killian asked with a perplexed expression and tone.
"I thought it'd be a cool trip for me after I graduate high school. I know it's still a couple years away, but it can't hurt to start looking," Liam answered matter-of-factly.
For a moment, Killian forgot how to breathe. His son was making plans – bloody plans that involved extensive traveling for God knows how long. If this how his older brother felt when he broke the news about he and Milah's future on the open road, he didn't know why in the bloody hell Liam let him leave.
He was pulled from his thoughts when he heard his 16-year-old exclaim, "Dad, you have to go! Grace is on her way!"
Killian simply nodded before he did as his son asked. When he had reached his truck and climbed inside, he laid his head against the steering wheel. He stayed like that for a moment before he looked up and saw the docks.
He knew his concentration was shot, so he called Leroy to give him and Will the rest of the day off. He then drove in the direction of the water.
Killian parked his truck before he got out and began making his way down the docks. When he arrived at the boat, he climbed on before he found a spot to lay down.
He didn't feel the time passing as he stared at the blue, cloudless sky. All he could think about was his son. It was hard enough that he was dating, but now he wanted to leave. He didn't know what to bloody do.
He soon heard footsteps, but he didn't look up to see to whom they belonged. He then saw his wife lay down beside him. She propped herself on his chest so that she could see him.
She then asked, "Are you alright, Killian?"
"No, I'm not," he answered honestly. He then sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.
Emma then sat up and took Killian's hand in hers, pulling him with her. "I know that Liam dating has been hard for you, but, for the most part, you've been dealing with it. I feel like there is more to this than simply that," she spoke.
He offered a small smile as he told her, "You always did know me best, love." He then took a deep breath and asked her, "Do you know about Liam's map?"
"I know that he has one, but I wasn't sure what it was really for," Emma answered.
"He wants to go on a trip after he graduates. He wants to visit all of the museums of author's houses," Killian stated, and he couldn't hide the waver in his voice.
Emma nodded. She took a few moments to consider his words before she perceived, "And you're worried that he won't come home. That'll he'll make a life of traveling like you did."
"Can you blame me? In case you haven't noticed the last 16 years, Liam is an awful, bloody lot like me. He has a short fuse made worse by his temper, subtly is not his strong suit, and he rarely takes the time to think through his actions."
"That may be, but he also loves his family. Do you really think he'll be so quick to just up and leave?"
"That didn't stop me," Killian stated. He then took a deep breath and elaborated, "When I was his age, I was working in order to buy a motorcycle because I wanted to travel. Two years later, I left my family to traipse around the whole bloody country."
"Milah was your family, too," Emma reminded him. She then took a deep breath and pointed out, "Look, Killian, we don't even know if this trip is a sure thing. He could very easily change his mind in the next two years."
"He seems pretty bloody determined to me," Killian said. He then told his wife, "And if he doesn't change his mind? This is the only future plans we've heard him talk about, Emma. No college, no career – we're going to lose him."
"Most kids don't have their futures planned out before they enter high school like Anna Elizabeth did. Even if – if – he does leave, we're not going to lose him. Liam and Belle didn't lose you, and you came home."
"How in the bloody hell are you okay with this?" Killian practically shouted.
Emma took a deep breath before she answered, "The same reason that your brother was okay with it." At her husband's furrowed brows, she continued, "He knew how much you wanted to travel, and he also saw how much you loved Milah. He didn't want to take that away from you. He wanted you to experience life. I know he was scared to death the same way I am, but he knew you deserved to live your dream."
Killian took several long moments to think over words. He then took a deep breath and joked, "If Liam would have told me all of this, we would have saved a lot of trouble."
Emma only grinned and shook her head before she told him, "We both know you wouldn't have listened. You would have followed your heart."
Killian grinned as well before he became serious and asked, "Love, if you're as scared as I am, why haven't you said anything?"
Emma ran her fingers through her blonde hair before she admitted, "I thought that I needed to be strong for you." She then looked down at her lap.
Killian then adjusted his position to where he was sitting directly in front of her. He then placed his thumb under her chin and tilted up her head.
He then told her, "You don't have to do that anymore, least of all with me. I'm so sorry I made you feel that way, Swan."
"It's not entirely your fault, Killian. You know I have always felt like I needed to be strong, no matter how I actually felt. I still feel that way at times, despite how open I've become and despite the fact that I no longer have all those walls," Emma admitted.
Killian ran his fingers through her hair before he softly kissed her forehead. He then told her, "I know you do. It's one of the many things I love about you."
She smiled softly before she sweetly kissed him. When they had pulled away, she reached beside her and grabbed a scrapbook.
When she had handed it to her husband, he offered a small smile as he stated, "Liam's baby book."
"Yeah. I've spent the last several days looking through it. Sometimes, I can't believe our baby is old enough to drive and date," Emma told him with a wistful tone.
Killian reached over to squeeze her hand before he reminisced, "You know, love, I seem to remember that you weren't too enthused when Liam's voice began growing deeper, and you realized that he was taller than you."
"That's because I didn't like it, and part of me didn't want to accept it. But I learned to be okay with it because I know that growing up is just part of life. We just have to learn to roll with it," Emma told him.
He squeezed her hand once more before he added, "And because we raised our son well." "Yeah, we did," she agreed with a smile.
Killian smiled back before he began looking through the baby book. As he flipped through the pages of Liam's first steps, his first words, and the first time he successfully fed himself, Emma saw that wistful, longing look on his face.
After a moment, she thought carefully before she questioned, "Can I ask you something, Killian?"
He turned to look at her as he answered, "Aye, love," with a curious tone in his voice.
Emma took a deep breath before she spoke, "Knowing everything that you know now, and now that you know how hard it is seeing your kids grow up and leave, would you still have bought that motorcycle? Would you still have left with Milah and made those plans for a future on the open road?"
"That isn't an easy question to answer, love," Killian commented. He then sighed and ran his fingers through his hair as he thought over her words and his answer. After a few minutes of silence, he spoke, "As much as I would love to answer 'no' and say I would have made a different choice, it wouldn't be the truth."
"What is the truth?"
"That I loved my life making stops and visiting all the different cities, and I loved the experiences those places gave me. I loved the feeling the freedom that it gave me. And I loved sharing it all with the woman I loved. I don't regret a moment of it. I know how hard it was for Liam, and for Belle, to watch me leave, but I would still do it all over again. It made me who I am, and it shaped the person I became. But most of all, it led me to you, my love. It led me to our two amazing children, and a grandchild in about eight more months. It led me to this wonderful life that we have built surrounded by our family. How could I even think about altering a decision that led me here?"
Emma reached up to caress his cheek as she told him, "Despite all the pain and loneliness I experienced in foster care, and all the heartache that Neal brought me, I wouldn't trade it for anything in this world. Like you said, it brought us together, and it gave me a family. Whatever road our son takes, he will end up exactly where he is supposed to be, even if it takes a little while for him to get there, and he will say exactly what we are saying now.
When I was searching for my parents, and I was feeling anxiety about whether or not Dad would actually want me after our visit with Aunt Victoria, you assured me that everything would work out. You told me that the struggles we faced in our childhoods made us stronger and more resilient, and you were right. That's why I know that no matter where the coming years take Liam, he will always come home. Home isn't a place – it's the people who love you and who are always there for you. And that's why we will never lose our son."
At this point, both of them were on the verge of tears, and for a moment, Killian could only stare at his wife. Despite knowing her for nearly 25 years and being married to her for 18 of them, she never failed to still amaze him. She truly was a bloody marvel, and he truly wouldn't change one moment in his life if it meant he didn't get to be with her.
He then began leaning in, and she met him halfway for a loving and tender kiss. They both still felt those same fireworks that they felt the first time that their lips met. He tilted his head to deepen the kiss, and she began running her fingers through his hair. A couple of minutes later, they pulled away with their foreheads touching, both wearing a smile.
"I love you so much, Emma," Killian spoke as he lifted his head to look into her eyes. Her smile only grew as she responded, "And I love you just as much, Killian."
Killian then reached up and ran his fingers through her hair before resting his forehead back against hers. They stayed like that until they heard their son's voice: "Mom! Dad!"
Both of them then rose to their feet, with the blue scrapbook still in Killian's hand. When they had climbed out of the boat and were standing on the dock, Liam ran up to them and spoke, "There you guys are! I'm hungry."
Killian and Emma couldn't help but chuckle before the blonde told her son, "You know we wouldn't let you starve, Liam."
The teenager only shrugged his shoulders before he replied, "I was beginning to wonder," with the smug grin that he inherited from his father.
Emma rolled her eyes while Killian chuckled at her side, earning him a smack in the shoulder. Liam was trying his best not to laugh.
The three of them then began making their way down the docks. A moment later, a breeze was blowing, and Emma caught a whiff of something.
She grinned as she playfully asked her son, "Hey, Liam, is there any particular reason that your shirt smells like perfume?"
Liam scratched behind his ear before he answered, "Well, I mean, Grace likes to wear a lot of it, and I guess it rubbed off when we hugged." He then shrugged his shoulders in an attempt to appear nonchalant.
Emma, and even Killian, grinned. The dark-haired man then observed, "So, I take it that you and Grace were able to figure out how to make things less awkward between the two of you."
Liam smiled as he replied, "Totally. Your advice was awesome, Dad." Killian smiled back in response.
"Well, kid, I'm glad you two were able to figure it out," Emma addressed her son. She then asked him, "Have you figured out where you're taking Grace for you guys' date?"
The black-haired teenager nodded before he elaborated, "In Mist Haven, they converted the old baseball stadium into a park and museum thing. It's really awesome. We're gonna grab something to go from one of the restaurants and then go hang out there."
"I think you two will have a great time. You really did take your dad's advice – both of you love baseball, and you made a date out of it. It's really sweet of you," Emma bragged on her son. He looked down as he blushed, and he also began scratching behind his ear.
When they arrived at the end of the docks, Killian commented, "Looks like I'll be driving the three of us home."
His wife and son gave him the exact same annoyed look, and he couldn't help but think, "Like mother, like son."
He grinned at them before they all climbed in Killian's truck. Once they all had their seatbelts on, Killian turned on the radio.
Liam instantly groaned when he heard "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" coming through the speakers. He then complained, "I know this is you guys' wedding song, but it's, like, old."
Both Emma and Killian rolled their eyes before the dark-haired man told his son, "Need I remind you that our wedding led to your very existence."
The 16-year-old rolled his eyes that time as he pointed out, "Only because you've told me a thousand times."
"And yet, it still hasn't gotten through that thick head of yours," Emma teased him.
Killian then chimed in, "Well, love, that's because he's stubborn like his mother." She narrowed her eyes at him before she smacked him in the arm.
"That isn't setting a good example for our son who is just now entering the dating world," he feigned scolding his wife.
"You guys are such dorks," Liam spoke just as they pulled into the driveway, where Emma and Killian recognized Calin's car.
Their daughter and son-in-law were both leaned against the Corvette. She was holding her brother's shirt while he was holding a large casserole dish.
When the three of them had gotten out of the truck, Killian asked, "What brings you two by?"
"I came to return Liam's shirt for his date," Anna Elizabeth immediately answered. Calin rolled his eyes before he added, "And because someone made entirely too much lasagna."
He received a glare from his wife, while Emma, Killian, and Liam tried their hardest not to burst into laughter.
Emma then spoke, "Well, I'm sure that it's delicious, so let's go eat." The rest of the family nodded before she unlocked the door, and they followed her into the house.
Killian put away the scrapbook before he helped Emma grab the dishes from the cabinet. Calin was setting the dish on the table.
Anna Elizabeth handed Liam his shirt before she told him, "It took me an hour to iron that. You better be glad that you're my brother and that I love you."
Liam refrained from rolling his eyes before he sincerely told her, "Thank you, Anna Elizabeth. For the ironing and for sewing the button back on."
"Sure thing, little bro," she responded. He did roll his eyes that time before he headed into his room to hang up the shirt.
Anna Elizabeth then asked Emma, "Hey, Mom, do you have like a sweatshirt or something that I can put on? I'm freezing."
"I think one of my jackets is the car. I'll run and grab it," Calin told her. Killian then added, "And I believe there's an extra blanket in our room somewhere, love." Both men then rushed off in a different direction.
The expectant mom shook her head as she asked, "Is this what I can look forward to for the next several months?"
Emma couldn't help but chuckle before she spoke, "Oh, you can count on it, kid. Just be thankful you don't work with either one of them."
Anna Elizabeth laughed before she conceded, "Oh, I believe you. I've already seen how protective Uncle David is over Evie, and he's amped it up since she and Alex have decided to actually date."
Emma chuckled and shook her head at her brother. She and Anna Elizabeth then finished setting the table just as Liam came back into the kitchen.
"This smells so good. You're like the best cook ever. Well, after Mom," the teenager told his sister.
Anna Elizabeth smiled as she told him, "Well, thank you, Liam. That is very high praise." He smiled back at her in response.
While Emma went to go find an extra chair for the normally four-person table, Calin and Killian came back it. Both of them instantly began wrapping her in the fabric.
"Guys, I'm cold, but it isn't exactly Antarctica in here. Can you two tone it down?" Anna Elizabeth told her overly protective father and husband.
Both of them stepped back while a confused Liam asked her, "Are you sick? Is that why they're freaking out?"
The three of them momentarily panicked before Anna Elizabeth covered, "It's just a cold. I'm sure I'll be over it soon."
"If soon means nine months, then sure," Calin muttered. Fortunately, his wife didn't hear him.
Emma then returned, and Killian helped her rearrange the chairs at the table. He then commented, "You know, love, we may just need a bigger table."
"We've made it work the last four years – I'm sure it'll last for quite a few more," Anna Elizabeth added with a grin.
"It may work for now, but it won't when your little lad or lass gets a bit older," Killian matter-of-factly stated.
"Dad!" Anna Elizabeth complained, while Calin and Emma shook their heads. Killian instantly realized his mistake and ran his fingers through his hair.
Liam, with furrowed brows, then asked his sister, "Why didn't you tell me you guys were having a baby?" with confusion in his tone.
Anna Elizabeth took a deep breath before she answered, "I know how important Grace and this date are to you. I didn't want to take away from that."
Liam thought about her words before he assured, "It's not, Anna Elizabeth. I think it's cool you guys are having a baby."
"You do?" she asked.
"Yeah. It'll be cool to be an uncle, even though Leo calls me that," Liam stated. He then furrowed his brows as a thought crossed his mind, and he added, "Although, I guess I wouldn't technically be this baby's uncle."
"Well, lad, I think perhaps we should just ignore the technicalities because there are quite a few of them in our family tree. All that matters is that we are family, and we now get to celebrate Anna Elizabeth and Calin's first child along with your first date and girlfriend," Killian spoke.
Everyone smiled, and Emma grabbed her husband's hands and lovingly squeezed it. The five of them then sat down at the table.
After everyone had scooped their lasagna, Anna Elizabeth asked her brother, "So, are you looking forward to your date?"
"Totally. Grace is awesome," Liam answered with a bright smile.
Anna Elizabeth smiled at her brother as she told him, "Well, I know that you two will have such a great time."
Liam smiled back in response before his sister continued, "As long as someone doesn't embarrass you," with a pointed look toward her father.
"Who, me?" Killian questioned, feigning innocence. His wife, daughter, and son all rolled their eyes while his son-in-law simply grinned.
Anna Elizabeth then pointed out, "Dad, you know you completely freaked out over my first kiss. It was terrible."
Killian ran his fingers through his hair before he admitted, "I know that I did, love." He then took a deep breath and vowed, "Should Liam come home from his date and tells us that he kissed Grace, I won't overreact at all."
"'At all' is a quite a promise, Killian," Emma pointed out.
The dark-haired man considered his wife's words before he corrected, "Okay, I won't overreact that much."
Everyone else offered a satisfied smile, except Liam, who was abnormally quiet.
Emma then asked her son, "Everything alright, kid?"
"Yeah, Mom," Liam replied a little too quickly. He was fighting the urge to scratch behind his ear as he nervously tapped his fork against his plate.
Calin couldn't help but grin as he perceived, "You've already kissed her, haven't you?" with a teasing smile toward his brother-in-law.
The black-haired teenager's eyes widened as he then did reach up to scratch behind his ear. He then slowly replied, "Um, well, maybe…sort of…yeah."
His sister, brother-in-law, and mother grinned widely while his father was taking a series of deep breaths.
Killian then asked his son, "Were you going to say anything, lad?"
"Of course I was. I was going to wait until much, much later," Liam began. He then cast an annoyed look toward his sister and continued, "Until you starting talking about you and Nathan," with crossed arms.
"Hey! I was only trying to help. How I was supposed to know that you already had your first kiss?" Anna Elizabeth remorsefully defended.
The teenager then took a deep, calming breath and told her, "Sorry. It's just, like, you know, embarrassing," as he scratched behind his ear once more.
"It's nothing to being embarrassed over, kid. I'm sure it was very sweet," Emma assured her son with a smile.
Liam's only response was looking down at his plate so that his family couldn't see the blush rising to his cheeks.
Anna Elizabeth then changed the subject to save her younger brother, "So, Liam, do you think you guys will make to the championship this year?"
The 16-year-old offered his sister a grateful smile before he enthusiastically launched into every detail of high school baseball.
Killian listened for a moment before he leaned over to Emma and discreetly whispered, "It seems like they were doing more than just studying."
"Killian, I'm not sure we have any room to talk. Any time we start on a home project, we always get distracted. And we've been married for almost 20 years," she pointed out.
He couldn't help but grin because he knew that his wife was right. He then observed, "It seems that Liam truly is the product of our love, Swan."
"Yeah, he is," Emma agreed. She then fondly spoke, "But that isn't a bad thing, you know," with a smile.
Killian nodded. He was contemplative for a moment for he told her, "After we found out we were having a boy, I was a bit worried that he would probably have my temper. Do you remember what you told me, love?"
The blonde furrowed her brows for as she thought over it. A few moments later, she answered, "Yeah. When you lose your temper, it's mostly because you're protecting your family."
"Liam is the same way. He wouldn't dare let any harm come to those he loves if he can help it," Killian stated. He then took a deep breath and continued, "And that is how I know our son will be okay. He truly understands where his priorities should lie and what is most important in life. We don't have to worry about him, love."
Emma offered her husband a proud smile before she leaned in to kiss him sweetly. He kissed her back and ran his fingers through her hair. They pulled away a few moments later and rested their foreheads against each other.
They stayed like that until they heard Anna Elizabeth's voice, "Mom, Dad, your food's getting cold," as she was trying not to giggle.
Both Emma and Killian blushed slightly before they went back to eating. Liam then teased, "And you guys wonder why I couldn't concentrate on studying," with a smug grin.
His parents rolled their eyes before Calin teased, "He really is you guys' child," with a grin.
"Careful, mate. You won't think it's so funny in a few more years when your little lad or lass insists on doing everything by themselves, no matter how unreasonable it may be," Killian told him, with a pointed look toward his daughter.
Anna Elizabeth immediately defended, "It's not my fault that I took after my mom," with crossed arms.
Emma, Killian, and Liam chuckled while Calin kissed his wife's forehead. He then told her, "Even our child is incredibly stubborn and independent, he or she will be absolutely perfect."
Anna Elizabeth smiled at her husband before they shared a tender kiss. When they pulled away, she announced, "Alright, that's enough distractions. I'm starving – I am eating for two now."
"I'm not sure you can blame your very active appetite on our unborn child," Calin told her.
"He's right, love. Your mother tried to use the same excuse, but it wasn't entirely accurate," Killian added.
Emma couldn't help but grin before she spoke, "I think that's why he eats so much now," as she reached over to ruffle her son's hair.
When she pulled her hand back, Liam groaned before he ran his fingers back through his dark locks.
Calin then addressed his brother-in-law, "Speaking of eating, where will you and Grace grab dinner at?"
"Wherever she wants to go," the teenager answered simply.
Killian smiled at his son as he told him, "Ah, keeping the lady happy and putting her first. You will never go wrong with that kind of attitude."
Liam offered his father a bright smile in response. He then turned his attention back to the food in front of him, as did the rest of the family.
It didn't take long for a new conversation to be struck up, and there were equal parts laughter and eating going on, and Killian was simply watching all of them, his children in particular.
They had both grown up so fast – too fast if you asked him. He would give anything to go back and relive some of those moments, like the one where Anna Elizabeth read to Liam the first night he was brought home from the hospital. Unfortunately, he knew that it didn't work like that, but oh, he wished that it did.
However, he wouldn't trade any of the moments that he had shared with his children, even the ones that invoked angry words and tears. They all led him right here, and for that, he will be forever grateful. He couldn't help but smile at the thought that there would be so many moments to look forward to in the future, even if that mere thought did scare him a little.
Time did move so bloody fast, but it only made the time spent with his family that much more special.